Cup sink for laboratory counter tops

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses a laboratory cup sink and laboratory counter top assembly in which the cup sink has a generally curviform configuration, free of angular corners so that water tends to swirl as it is drained therefrom, and a mounting flange, projecting laterally from generally the top of the cup sink bowl, which has rectilinear peripheral edges. This makes it possible to provide an aperture in the laboratory counter top for receiving the cup sink by making rectilinear cuts through the counter top which correspond to the rectilinear peripheral edges of the mounting flange, rather than making a generally curvilinear cut as has been done for years for prior art cup sinks.

United States Patent [1 1 Betts 1 Dec. 24, 1974 CUP SINK FOR LABORATORY COUNTER TOPS [75] Inventor: Paul J. Betts, Muskegon, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Inter Dyne, Spring Lake, Mich.

[22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 [211 Appl. No.: 412,671

[52] US. Cl 4/187 A, 4/166, 4/167, 4/170 [51] Int. Cl. E03c 1/18, E030 U182 [58] Field of Search 4/166, 167, 170, 187 R, 4/187 A, 68, 1; 108/25, 26; 285/189, 193, 201

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,778,300 lO/1930 Ramstead 1;. 4/187 A 1,880,733 10/1932 Bolhuis 4/187 A 2,600,599 6/1952 Wycoff 4/187 A 3,577,572 5/1971 Ruggles 4/166 X 3,673,617 7/1972 Schulz, Jr 4/187 R Giglio 4/187 R Williams 4/187 R [57] ABSTRACT The specification discloses a laboratory cup sink and laboratory counter top assembly in which the cup sink has a generally curviform configuration, free of angular corners so that water tends to swirl as it is drained therefrom, and a mounting flange, projecting laterally from generally the top of the cup sink bowl, which has rectilinear peripheral edges. This makes it possible to provide an aperture in the laboratory counter top for receiving the cup sink by making rectilinear cuts through the counter top which correspond to the rectilinear peripheral edges of the mounting flange, rather than making a generally curvilinear cut as has been done for years for prior art cup sinks.

11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures CUP SINK FOR LABORATORY COUNTER TOPS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to laboratory cup sinks and the laboratory counter tops in which they are mounted. Laboratory cup sinks have been a standard laboratory fixture for many, many years. They are very small sinks provided at the back of and at various points along the length of a laboratory counter top to provide a plurality of drainage points for a plurality of different workers or experiments. Typically, they are integrally molded or cast in one piece from lead, plastic or the like.

A properly designed laboratory cup sink does not have to be particularly large in order to serve its draining function. Thus, laboratory cup sinks are generally curviform in configuration, either circular or oval, as indicated by the prior art cup sink 50 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A generally curviform configuration insures that the water will swirl as it drains from bowl 51 through the bottom drain 52, such swirling resulting in the most efficient and rapid drainage possible.

Cup sinks must also be quite small due to physical limitations imposed by human engineering factors. The lab counter shown in FIG. 1 illustrates this point. Typically, the designer does not want the laboratory counter top 11 to extend more than 30 inches away from wall 5. Usually, one wants about a 1 inch overhang at the front of counter top 11 beyond the front of storage cabinets 13. Cabinets 13 must themselves be about 22 inches deep in order to be effective. This leaves a pipe space 14 between wall 5 and the back of cabinets 13 which is only about 7 inches deep. At the counter top 11, only 6 inches of this can be used to mount a cup sink since the splash back 12 projects upwardly at the rear of counter top 11 is usually about an inch thick. As a result, the cup sink 50 can only be about 3 or 4 inches wide, and certainly no more than 6 inches at the most. In this regard, generally oval shaped cup sinks are the most popular since they provide at least a little more volume than would a circular cup sink having a diameter of only 3 to 6 inches.

In order to mount the generally curviform cup sink in the counter top, an aperture having generally curvilinear edges to conform to the generally curvilinear edges of the cup sink must be cut into the counter top. FIG. 4 shows a generally oval shaped aperture 60 cut into laboratory counter top 11 for receiving cup sink 50. Aperture 60 is cut so as to define an inwardly projecting ledge 61 (FIG. 5) on which the lip or mounting flange 53 of prior art cup sink 50 can be mounted (See FIGS. 2, 3 and 5).

While such prior art structures have been utilized for many years, the laboratory counter top industry has always been plagued with the problem of cutting the aperture 60 in counter top 11. Laboratory counter tops are typically made of a very hard material such as marble, soap stone, stainless steel, epoxy resin, ceramic materials etc. These materials must be tough and hard in order to stand up in a laboratory environment. Because they are hard, they are difficult to cut. This difficulty is compounded in that the aperture must have a curvilinear edge to correspond to the curvilinear edge of the oval or circular cup sink.

Literally thousands of dollars have been invested in research to try to generate tooling which would out these curvilinear apertures more efficiently and less costly. Yet, today it still costs approximately twice as much to cut the hole in the counter top as it does to purchase the cup sink. One prior artisan attempted to provide a rectangular cup sink so that a rectangular aperture could be used. However, the angular corners in SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a laboratory cup sink is provided which has a bowl of generally curviform configuration, free of angular corners, but which has a mounting flange projecting laterally from generally the top of the bowl which has rectilinear peripheral edges. This enables one to provide an aperture in the counter top by making rectilinear cuts through the counter top which correspond in length to the rectilinear peripheral edges of the mounting flange. Since it is far easier to make a rectilinear cut in the head counter top material than it is to make a curvilinear cut, the present invention substantially reduces the costs of providing a cup sink receiving aperture in the counter top.

Further, because an aperture having rectilinear edges can be used, one need not provide a step in the aperture itself on which to mount the cup sink. Rather, one can simply secure pieces on angle iron or other mounting strip material to the inside edges of the aperture upon which the cup sink mounting flange can be rested. This still further reduces the cost of cutting the aperture in the counter top.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become fully understood and appreciated by reference to the written specification and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a laboratory counter 10 mounted against a wall 5;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a prior art cup sink;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a prior art cup sink;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a prior art aperture in a laboratory counter top;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the cup sink of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the cup sink of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of an aperture with attached mounting strips in a counter top of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane IXIX of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 9, but with the cup sink of the present invention mounted within the aperture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred embodiment the cup sink 30 of the present invention is integrally formed in one piece of a material such as lead, plastic or other acceptable cup sink material (FIGS. 6 and 7). It includes a bowl 31 of a generally curviform configuration, preferably generally oval, having no angular corners which would interfere with the swirling pattern of water draining therefrom. A drain 32 is provided at the bottom of bowl 31.

Mounting flange 33 projects outwardly from bowl 31 generally at the top thereof. Whereas bowl 31 is generally curviform in configuration, the peripheral edges 33a of mounting flange 33 are rectilinear and define a rectangle. Mounting flange 33 slopes downwardly.

slightly from its peripheral edges 33a towards bowl 31 so that water or the like collecting thereon tends to flow downwardly into bowl 31 (see shading on FIG. 6 and see FIG.

The aperture 40 in laboratory counter top 11 of the present invention also includes rectilinear edges 40a which correspond to the rectilinear edges 33a of cup sink mounting flange 33 and which also thereby define a rectangle (FIG. 8). Secured to two opposing edges 40a are each of a pair of angle iron mounting strips 41 (F168. 8 and 9). Mounting strip 41 is generally L- shaped in configuration and is mounted in an. inverted fashion by means of screws 42 or other fastening means securing its leg to the inside edge 40a of aperture 40. The top surface of each mounting strip 41 is spaced below the top surface of counter top 11 a distance which is approximately equal to the thickness of the mounting flange 33 (See FIG. 10). In this way, the top surface of mounting flange 33 is generally flush with the top surface of counter top 11 when cup sink 30-is mounted on mounting strips 41.

ln operation, a plurality of rectangular apertures 40 are cut into counter top 11 at various points along the back thereof, over pipe space 14. Apertures 40 can relatively easily be cut since all of the edges 40a thereof are rectilinear. With apertures 40 thus cut, mounting strips 41 are secured to the inside edges 40a of aperture 40, at least on two opposite sides of aperture 40. Then, each cup sink 30 is lowered into aperture 40 until its mounting flange 33 rests atop mounting strips 41 with the top surface of mounting flange 43 generally flush with the top surface of counter top 11. Positive securement can be perfected by employing cement or other conventional fastening means.

Of course, it is understood that the above is merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that various changes and alterations can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A laboratory cup sink for mounting in a laboratory counter top along a narrow space at the rear thereof so that drain pipes can extend downwardly from the cup sink behind the cabinets of the counter, said cup sink comprising: a bowl of a generally curviform configuration, free of angular corners; a mounting flange projecting laterally from generally the top of said bowl, said mounting flange having rectilinear peripheral edges whereby an aperture for receiving said laboratory cup sink can be provided in a laboratory counter top by making rectilinear cuts through said counter top corresponding to the rectilinear edges of said mounting flange, and said mounting flange sloping downwardly slightly from its peripheral edges towards said bowl.

2. The laboratory cup sink of claim 1 in which said bowl is generally oval in configuration and said mounting flange peripheral edges define a rectangle.

3. The laboratory cup sink of claim 1 in which said peripheral edges of said mounting flange define a rectangle.

4. The laboratory cup sink of claim 1 in which said bowl and mounting flange are of an integral, one piece construction.

5. A laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly comprising: a laboratory counter top; a cup sink for mounting in said counter top, said cup sink having a bowl of generally curviform configuration, free of angular corners with a drain opening therein, and having a mounting flange projecting laterally from generally the top of said bowl, said mounting flange having rectilinear peripheral edges; an aperture in said laboratory counter top having rectilinear edges corresponding to the rectilinear peripheral edges of said mounting flange; said cup sink being positioned in said aperture with said rectilinear peripheral edges positioned against said rectilinear edges of said aperture.

6. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 5 including at least a pair of rectilinear supporting strips, each being fastened to one of two generally opposite rectilinear edges of said aperture; the top surface of said rectilinear support strip being spaced below the top surface of said counter top a distance approximately equal to the thickness of said mounting flange; said mounting flange resting on said rectilinear mounting strips with its top surface generally flush with the top surface of said counter top.

7. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 6 in which each of said rectilinear mounting strips comprises a bracket which is generally L-shaped in configuration having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, said bracket being mounted with said horizontal leg positioned above said vertical leg and defining the top surface of said mounting strip.

8. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 6 in which said bowl is generally oval in configuration and said mounting flange peripheral edges define a rectangle.

9. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 8 in which said mounting flange slopes downwardly slightly from its peripheral edges towards said bowl.

10. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 5 in which said peripheral edges of said mounting flange define a rectangle.

11. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 5 in which said bowl and mounting flange are of an integral, one piece construction. 

1. A laboratory cup sink for mounting in a laboratory counter top along a narrow space at the rear thereof so that drain pipes can extend downwardly from the cup sink behind the cabinets of the counter, said cup sink comprising: a bowl of a generally curviform configuration, free of angular corners; a mounting flange projecting laterally from generally the top of said bowl, said mounting flange having rectilinear peripheral edges whereby an aperture for receiving said laboratory cup sink can be provided in a laboratory counter top by making rectilinear cuts through said counter top corresponding to the rectilinear edges of said mounting flange, and said mounting flange sloping downwardly slightly from its peripheral edges towards said bowl.
 2. The laboratory cup sink of claim 1 in which said bowl is generally oval in configuration and said mounting flange peripheral edges define a rectangle.
 3. The laboratory cup sink of claim 1 in which said peripheral edges of said mounting flange define a rectangle.
 4. The laboratory cup sink of claim 1 in which said bowl and mounting flange are of an integral, one piece construction.
 5. A laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly comprising: a laboratory counter top; a cup sink for mounting in said counter top, said cup sink having a bowl of generally curviform configuration, free of angular corners with a drain opening therein, and having a mounting flange projecting laterally from generally the top of said bowl, said mounting flange having reCtilinear peripheral edges; an aperture in said laboratory counter top having rectilinear edges corresponding to the rectilinear peripheral edges of said mounting flange; said cup sink being positioned in said aperture with said rectilinear peripheral edges positioned against said rectilinear edges of said aperture.
 6. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 5 including at least a pair of rectilinear supporting strips, each being fastened to one of two generally opposite rectilinear edges of said aperture; the top surface of said rectilinear support strip being spaced below the top surface of said counter top a distance approximately equal to the thickness of said mounting flange; said mounting flange resting on said rectilinear mounting strips with its top surface generally flush with the top surface of said counter top.
 7. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 6 in which each of said rectilinear mounting strips comprises a bracket which is generally L-shaped in configuration having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, said bracket being mounted with said horizontal leg positioned above said vertical leg and defining the top surface of said mounting strip.
 8. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 6 in which said bowl is generally oval in configuration and said mounting flange peripheral edges define a rectangle.
 9. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 8 in which said mounting flange slopes downwardly slightly from its peripheral edges towards said bowl.
 10. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 5 in which said peripheral edges of said mounting flange define a rectangle.
 11. The laboratory cup sink and counter top assembly of claim 5 in which said bowl and mounting flange are of an integral, one piece construction. 